Dutchie cannabis platform sees its value increase eightfold

The American platform Dutchie, which brings together cannabis consumers and producers, has just raised the princely sum of $200 million. The company is now valued at $1.7 billion (1.4 billion euros). Last year, the Bend, Oregon-based company was worth «just» $200 million. Today, it's worth eight times as much. By way of comparison, its capitalization is roughly equivalent to that of FNAC-Darty, the French group combining the two chains.

In concrete terms, Dutchie sells cannabis stores a way of increasing their sales tenfold: a website. The site is created and managed by the platform, which handles all orders. It also provides stores with data to better understand consumer behavior.

In just four years of existence, the Oregon-based company has become a behemoth of the cannabusiness. The proof is in the pudding: in addition to this fund-raising, the company is swallowing Greenbits and LeafLogix, two companies specializing in cannabinoid logistics. The amount of the transaction is unknown. All we know is that Dutchie will grow from 150 to 300 employees.

Starbucks owner as investor

«Dutchie's mission is to provide fast and safe access to cannabis. We believe we have a role to play in helping this industry evolve, helping this market grow.», says a delighted Ross Lipson, the company's CEO, in a press release.

Among the investors who believe in this platform is Howard Schultz, the former boss - and still major shareholder - of Starbucks, the coffee multinational. For him and the other funds, Dutchie represents the future. With a covid-19 pandemic that has encourage consumers to buy online, and a U.S. federal government to legalize cannabis soon, euphoria is palpable in the cannabis industry.

Investors even suggest that they have found the goose that lays the golden eggs. «We work with companies that have the potential to change entire sectors of the economy., says John Curtius, who has invested money on behalf of Tiger Global. We look forward to supporting this world-class team.»